In a victory for clean air and public health, Georgia Power announced last week its plans to phase out 15 total aging coal and oil-burning units at Plant Branch, Plant Yates, and Plant Kraft as our power company prepares to begin its multi-year planning process at the Georgia Public Service Commission later this month.

Nationwide, coal use is at its lowest levels in decades as cleaner sources of energy are declining in price and coal is becoming more expensive, and with today’s announcement, 129 coal plants nationwide have been slated for retirement. The story was so big that Sierra Club Executive Director Mike Brune was interview for a story on NPR's All Things Considered. Although Georgia Power has been slow to invest in clean energy generation to meet Georgia’s energy needs, today’s announcement demonstrates that coal-fired power plants are no longer able to provide competitively priced electricity in the Peach State.

“Georgia families will be breathing easier now that some of the state’s oldest and largest polluters will be phased out,” said Seth Gunning, Beyond Coal Organizer with the Georgia Sierra Club. “Georgia Power’s decision to phase out nearly one quarter of their dirty, eighteenth century technology is good for families and good for their customers. If the company chooses to replace this capacity with home-grown, twenty-first century energy technology like solar and wind, their decision will also be good for Georgia jobs. Moving beyond coal and oil is the right decision for Georgia Power.”

The Georgia General Assembly gets underway this week. Our legislative team of veteran lobbyist Neill Herring and Chair Mark Woodall will be keeping their eyes on all of the comings and goings, especially those on ethics, transportation, solar freedom, and rollbacks of environmental regulations. Sign up for Action Alerts here, and mark your calendar for Georgia Conservation Voters annual Legislative Breakfast followed by Georgia Water Coaltion's Lobby Day on February 28th.

Sign up here to join us beginning at Vogel State Park to hike the Coosa Loop trail clockwise to it's intersection with the Duncan Ridge Trail, then follow the Duncan Ridge Trail over to the Appalachian Trail and up to Blood Mtn. On the way back we will take the Bear Hair Gap trail and go to an overlook with a view of the park. There are nice views at the top of Blood Mountain and the overlook. We will take a moderate pace. 10 miles and 2300 feet of elevation gain. 4-5 hrs hiking time. Mid-January may possibly mean cold weather and snow/ice on Blood Mtn.

January 23 - Sierra Club & Beer

Help protect the planet and have a good time doing it! On January 23rd Jennette Gayer from Environment Georgia will be talking about how wind energy can work in Georgia and put Georgians to work. Play environmental trivia, meet new people, get involved. Event is from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Music Room, 327 Edgewood Ave. Like our Facebook page and please RSVP here and help cover our costs by bringing a $5 suggested donation!

February 1 - Al Gore at the Carter Center

Ours is a time of revolutionary change that has no precedent in history. With the same passion he brought to the challenge of climate change, and with his decades of experience on the front lines of global policy, Al Gore surveys our planet’s beclouded horizon and offers a sober, learned, and ultimately hopeful forecast in the visionary tradition of Alvin Toffler’s Future Shock and John Naisbitt’s Megatrends. In The Future, Gore identifies the emerging forces that are reshaping our world. Click here for tickets, which include an autographed copy of Vice President Gore's book.

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